Articles on: Getting Started

I'm not able to import a script from my mail app on my iPad or iPhone

If you tap a PDF attachment in Apple Mail, Gmail, or Outlook and don't see Import to Scriptation or a Scriptation icon, one of these three things is usually the cause. Try them in order.

1. Download the file first

Most mail apps don't actually download attachments until you tap them. If the PDF is still in the cloud, the Open in / Share options can be limited. Tap the attachment once to download it fully (look for a download spinner or icon), then try the Share button again.

2. Update Scriptation

If Scriptation is out of date, it may not register as a destination app for PDFs. Go to Scriptation in the App Store and tap Update if available. Once updated, you should see options to Open in Scriptation or Import to Scriptation.

Some mail apps — especially Gmail and Outlook — hide direct "Open in" options behind the system Share sheet. With the PDF open in your mail app:

Tap the Share icon (the box with the arrow);
Scroll through the app row and tap Scriptation;
If Scriptation isn't there, scroll to the end of the row and tap More to enable it.

📝 NOTE: On some setups, you may need to save the PDF to Files first (Share → Save to Files), then open it in Scriptation from there.

✅ TIP: Working with a lot of script attachments? Keep your scripts in Cloud Storage so they're available across every device without emailing yourself files.

4. Gmail (and other webmail) opened inside a browser

On some setups (notably iPadOS 26 with the Gmail app viewed in Safari), tapping a PDF attachment inside Gmail's in-browser viewer and hitting Share only shares a link to Gmail's viewer — not the actual PDF file. In that case, Scriptation won't appear in the Share sheet, and choosing "Import to Scriptation" from Options won't actually open the file. To fix this:

Easiest fix — use the Gmail app instead of Gmail in a browser. The Gmail app opens PDFs in the iPad's own preview and shares them straight to Scriptation with no conversion in between.
If you'd rather stay in the browser, tap the download button inside the Gmail viewer (not the Safari Share icon). If the file doesn't open automatically, tap the Downloads button in Safari and select the file — this opens it in Preview, where Import to Scriptation will work correctly.

Still stuck?

Tap the Send us an email button at the bottom of this page and include your mail app, device, and iOS version.

What's Next

Importing and Opening Scripts in Scriptation
Welcome to Scriptation for iPad
How to Share Notes or Email a File

Updated on: 31/07/2026

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